Page Name

Edna Matilda Dalton 1904-1996 married Bryon Nelson Parker 19 July 1924

GETTING TO KNOW [Edna Matilda Dalton 1904-1996]

Edna Parker was born 29 February, 1904 in Richfield, Utah. She lived in Richfield until age 10 when the family moved to Joseph, Utah and attended school in the town of Monroe. Edna’s father was killed six months before she was born which made her an only child until the age of 10 when her mother married a man with ten children. Living on a farm brought with it all of the chores of which Edna became a part Cows had to be milked before school every morning and then again every night. Hay had to be loaded on the hay wagons and unloaded. One time when Edna was about 11 or 12 she decided she would give herself a hair cut because she was tired of always having to have her hair in braids. She took the scissors and cut the braids off so her hair was too short to be braided. She must have started a new trend because a few days later, several girls came to school with their hair cut Math was her favorite subject and reading was something she hated to do!!

Edna remembers borrowing her step-father’s car, without permission, to practice her driving skills in the lane at home. She practiced starting and stopping, backing up, turning around and etc. She thought her step-father was working in the field and wouldn't see her but she was wrong!! This did not go over too well and I am sure Edna did not borrow the car again without permission.

Some other favorite things to do while growing up were playing softball, she pitched on a softball team and her best friend was the catcher, riding horses fast and driving cars fast.  She gave up riding horses but continued to drive fast until she gave up driving. Her baseball genes are blossoming in a great grandson.

While attending Keyster School of Sewing & Tailoring in Salt Lake, Edna started dating Byron Parker, her step-father’s half brother. She dropped her first true love, her step- father’s nephew, Andrew Parker for Byron. So a Parker was first love and last love and all the little Parkers in between. Edna and Byron had 8 children, Edward Foy, Trent, Mercedese, Maxine, Doris, Maurice, Scott and Gregory.  Her husband and three oldest children have passed away. There are 37 grandchildren, 85 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. Maxine lives with Edna and is one of our great Relief Society teachers and also provides excellent care for her mother. Doris & William Payne have served two missions and are currently on their third mission, this one in Guatemala. Maurice & Joyce live in Holladay, Scott is in Orange, California and Greg & Jeanene live in Norman, Oklahoma. Greg & Jeanene’s son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Michele and family, live in Edna’s basement apartment.

First and most important Edna is a mom and homemaker. Making yummy rolls, breads, candy, meats, vegetables, cheese, butter, cottage cheese and buttermilk along with gardening and growing flowers. She loved to sew and had the best dressed children in the neighborhood and with no money so to speak. There was a never ending amount of dinner guests, especially the kids who knew where to find tasty food, laughter and fun, fun times. Sundays were always a day when you could expect to find a lot of people at the house who always stayed to eat dinner.

Edna has had many church callings and has been Relief Society President twice. Her most favorite place to live has been in Sandy and she has made many friends through the years she has lived here. Last week the family celebrated her 90^th birthday. If you count her actual birthdays, she has only had 22!  Happy Birthday Edna!

Written by Maxine Parker [Daughter]